Friday, August 8, 2014

Last time for Casual Friday, I offered a satirical video about grammar. Today I offer a language of gesture.

Nearly all of us use hand gestures when we speak, but I believe many will agree that the Italians have raised this to an art form and highly expressive language of its own. So this Friday video is not so satirical but still fun, I hope. Or at least easy on the eyes.

Image is a detail of a detail of Botticelli’s Primavera, courtesy Wikipedia.The original is in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where a few years ago I had the great privilege of seeing it in person.

It's when you tug downwards along the top of your cheek/below lower eyelid, basically to indicate you think someone is trying to be devious and you're on to them. It can go either way for positive/negative, depending a lot on the facial expression going with it and context.

There's even doing it with your middle finger when you really want to send a message about seeing through someone trying to slyly take advantage of you.

Of course, that whole mess of cultural context and nuance is probably why it's not in there, isn't it >.>;;

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A Polite Explanation

There’s a big difference in how we use history. But we’re equally nuts about it. To us, the everyday details of life in the past are things to talk about, ponder, make fun of -- much in the way normal people talk about their favorite reality show.

We talk about who’s wearing what and who’s sleeping with whom. We try to sort out rumor or myth from fact. We thought there must be at least three other people out there who think history’s fascinating and fun, too. This blog is for them.